Driving around the winding roads near my home in East Anglia recently, I was startled when I was beeped by a fellow driver.

Presumably I’d annoyed them in some way.  

While this is the kind of routine occurrence that most people can shrug off, as someone who is hyper sensitive, it cast a shadow over my entire day.

I couldn’t concentrate on my work and when I went to pick my children up from school, I felt nervous being back behind the wheel.

That night, I continued to go over and over the incident in my head, obsessively worrying about what I did wrong and whether I even deserved to have a driving license at all. 

All in all it took me well over 24 hours to process this one tiny exchange with a stranger.

I wish I could say this is the first time a small negative reaction has had such a stark impact on me – but the reality is, it wasn’t even the first time that week.

Highly sensitive people (HSP) are theorised to respond excessively to external stimuli, be that emotional, sensory (like sights or sounds) or even physically. For me, my hypersensitivity started from childhood.

Around the age of four I had to perform my first ballet show to a crowd at a small theatre in Stroud. As a very shy child, this was my worst nightmare.

I remember looking out at the audience and finding it overwhelming to see such a mass of people staring at me out of the darkness. I couldn’t cope and wound up turning my back on the crowd, performing my little dance in my pink tutu to the wall.

At the age of five, my headmaster slapped me across the face in the bathroom and, after that I became too embarrassed to ask to go to the toilet at school, so much so that one time I ended up doing it in my satchel instead.

While my teachers never found out, my mum knew immediately. Thankfully, she was very gracious and understanding, and sensibly moved me to another school shortly afterwards. 

Any suffering I witnessed – be that adverts of dogs being mistreated on TV or reading particularly upsetting news articles – would make me feel distraught. I’d cry and feel like I had to do something about it.

It’s why I’d signed up as a sponsor to all sorts of animal charities by the age of nine. By adulthood, I was quite bad at saying no to any fundraising initiatives.

At this point in my life, a therapist I’d seen purely to get to the bottom of my seemingly heightened emotions suggested that I was most likely hyper sensitive.

I didn’t take this too seriously or even think of it as a ‘diagnosis’, but it did explain why I reacted so severely to certain situations compared to others.

To this day (and I’m 44 now) if someone tells me a particularly harrowing story about something awful that has happened to them – such as losing all their money in a scam or discovering their partner has been cheating on them – I still immediately want to help.  

I’ve been known to offer to look after children for the summer holidays, even if I don’t know them that well. As for friends, I’ve invited them to move into my house until they’re back on their feet, regardless of how impractical an idea it actually is. And, quite often, people take me up on my offers.

There’s a more physical side to hypersensitivity too, one that makes me far more attuned (for better and worse) to sights, sounds, and even smells.  

The other day when looking round a house I might buy I was completely put off as the fridge was giving off an awful odour when I opened the door.

My son, husband and estate agent thought I was being ridiculous – it was just one, easily replaced item of furniture after all. But it coloured my entire perception of that potential new home and, as a result, we discounted it.

If that’s not hard enough to combat, I even worry that it’s somehow arrogant that I seem to consider my problems bigger than others’, and just can’t get over minor issues like most people. I often worry that I’ve bored people endlessly with my worries – though fortunately, it’s never seemed to cost me any friendships.

But it’s not all bad.

It has taught me not to jump to conclusions, to accept defeat and admit fault, to say sorry (even if I often do it when I shouldn’t), to be a good friend and to look out for others in a way others maybe wouldn’t.

I’ll always be the first to check in with someone or send a follow-up text and I try to help as much as I can. However, I also recognise when it’s best to take a step back and be respectful of boundaries.

One of the other advantages of being a highly sensitive person is that it is easy to put yourself into someone else’s shoes which I’d like to think has made me a better journalist as I am able to better empathise with people and tell their stories more honestly.

You can’t manufacture real emotions or how stories affect you – at least I certainly can’t.

Basically, being a highly sensitive person is both a blessing and a curse.

My daughter even says I have a gift of prophecy as I can usually pick up on a bad atmosphere in a place or if a marriage is on the rocks before anyone else. 

Sometimes I wish I could just switch it off and go about my life like a ‘normal’ person. But this is who I am and even if it keeps me up at night, I’ll always be grateful I’m not like most people.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk. 

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Cardigans have had a bad rap for many years, often dismissed as the kind of knit you’d expect to find lurking in your grandparents’ wardrobes.

At the mere mention of a cardi, your mind likely drifts to old-fashioned, dusty, shapeless styles, plain, predictable, and belonging in another era altogether.

But we’re not going to lie, we’ve always had a soft spot for a cosy cardi. And in 2026, it seems the fashion world finally agrees. Thanks to high street brands giving this classic knit a modern makeover, cardigans are shedding their reputation and stepping back into the spotlight. 

Think statement 3D appliqués, bold prints, cropped hems, short-sleeve silhouettes and unexpected textures that are anything but frumpy. No longer kept aside for layering up at home, today’s cardigans are designed to be worn front and centre. Whether you style them as a standalone top or pair them with a plain tee, this once-overlooked staple is officially cool again.

Shop the best cardigans on the high street:

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F&F Heart Button Long Sleeved Cardigan in Red

The next time you’re in Tesco doing your weekly food shop, stop by the F&F aisles as you’ll discover this marvellous design that strikes a brilliant balance of statement, yet stylish. The bold red shade taps into 2026’s trend of striking colours, whilst the heart-shaped gold buttons add a subtle edge of personality.

Buy Now for £25

Next Bright Blue 3D Tulip Soft Touch Chunky Knit Cardigan

You can never go wrong with a chunky kit, and Next is proving why. This style is designed to nod to Springtime with its playful knitted appliqués, whilst serving the perfect amount of kitsch. Ideal for styling over wide-leg trousers or balancing out a mini skirt, it nails the 2026 trend for playful textures with a soft-touch finish that feels luxe.

Buy Now for £52

River Island Pink Embroidered V-neck Cardigan

Embroidery is the way to go if you want to keep it sleek yet make a style statement, and River Island’s Pink Embroidered cardi is great for this. The contrast of the red and pink, and the intricate details, make this ideal for leaning into a quiet romantic revival of the wardrobe staple. Wear it slightly undone with tailored trousers or fully buttoned with a satin midi for an elevated daytime look.

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H&M Frill-trimmed Cardigan

Add a flirty feel to your knit with H&M’s frill-trimmed cardigan. Whilst it gives a soft, fun feel, it also provides a vintage edge that works perfectly to elevate everyday outfits – think along the lines of straight-leg jeans, ballet flats and a slick bun. It’s also lightweight, making it easy to layer without overheating.

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COS Merino Wool Cardigan

It doesn’t have to be all about loud prints, minimal designs can still provide an effortless aesthetic. Crafted from merino wool, this premium cardi offers casual, and understated vibes whilst providing a dopamine boost with its butter-yellow shade. A quiet luxury staple for 2026.

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Mango Knitted Cardigan with Ties

Tie-front cardigans are having a moment, and this style from Mango ticks all of the boxes. Not only does it make it adjustable so you can tighten and loosen where you wish, but it adds a cute decorative touch to the slouchy style.

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Nobody’s Child Cream Strawberry Embroidered Cardigan

The cream colour of the cardi keeps things wearable, while the strawberry embroidery adds a playful, almost nostalgic edge that feels perfectly on trend. Style it with denim and trainers for daytime, or dress it up with a skirt and knee-high boots.

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New Look Green Lightweight Striped Crew Neck Cardigan

Lightweight knits don’t only make for the perfect transitional wardrobe item, but they are great for layering. This striped number ticks all of the boxes with its timeless stripe print, and fresh green hues. The crew neckline creates a flattering silhouette as it rests on your collarbones, and makes for a perfect style to even throw on over summer dresses.

Buy Now for £18.99

M&S Cotton Rich Crew Neck Button Front Cardigan

Sometimes simplicity is key. Made from breathable cotton, this cardigan is perfect for all-year-round wear no matter the season. Button it up and wear it on it's own with tailored trousers and loafers, or leave it open over a slip dress for a more dressy look. The patch pockets are the perfect addition to store things like your lip balm in.

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ASOS DESIGN Rolled Edge Short Sleeve Cardigan in Red

Whether you’re a hot person, or want to change this trend up, then why not opt for a short sleeve style? The rolled edges give it a laid-back finish, while the bold colour makes it feel current. Everyone will stop and look at you for all of the right reasons.

Buy Now for £26

Never Fully Dressed Navy Studded Cardigan

Never Fully Dressed never fails to wow with their collection of cardigans, nearly always selling out in multiple designs. This new navy studded option is bound to be another, so act fast to snap this beauty up. The navy colourway makes it a timeless staple, with a sleek statement twist thanks to the gold studs.

Buy Now for £99

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Ashley James is a force for change in a world of misogyny. She tells how more needs to be done to help women and girls when it comes to sexual assault, maternal mental health and more

From the outside, Elle Ward looked like the life and soul of the party; funny, outgoing and confident. But inside, she was crumbling.

‘I could be in the middle of a conversation, looking like I’m having a good time. But in my head I am constantly asking if I’m doing it right, if these people even like me. I had a constant internal voice questioning everything,’ the mother-of-one from Orpington explains.

Elle, 28, struggled with self-harm, depression and poor self-esteem as a teenager, and often clashed with her parents. By her late twenties, juggling single motherhood and a demanding teaching job, she was dangerously low.

‘On the drive to work, I would be silently begging someone to crash into my car, so I wouldn’t have to do it myself,’ she tells Metro.

In October 2024, burnt out from work and depressed after the end of a long relationship, Elle decided she no longer wanted to live.

‘I was going off the rails. I was driving, taking recreational drugs every Friday and Saturday night. By Sunday I wasn’t a very nice person,’ she remembers. ‘My relationship with my parents was worse than ever. Everyone understandably thought I was selfish, but I was ill. I just felt – I can’t do this anymore.’

That week, without anyone knowing, Elle quietly said her goodbyes. She took her eight-year-old son on trips to the zoo, the amusement arcade and London, spent time with her grandparents, and had dinner with her parents.

‘I was at peace with ending my life. And it sounds strange, but it was probably the best I’d felt in such a long time,’ she recalls.

Elle doesn’t remember what happened after she kissed her parents goodnight and went up to her bedroom, but a chance visit from a neighbour saved her life and she was rushed to A&E. Two days later, she was transferred to a psychiatric ward in Sidcup.

Arriving at five in the morning, Elle was greeted by a man in a dress playing loud music in the communal area.

‘I was petrified, and not in the head space to speak to anyone,’ she explains. ‘For the first week, I was so scared. I didn’t think I belonged somewhere like that – but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.’

With her phone and toiletries confiscated, Elle was shown to her room, where everything was bolted to the floor. There, she stayed in bed for days.

‘I refused to talk to anyone and just lay on the plastic mattress staring at the ceiling. I didn’t shower, I didn’t eat. I might as well have been dead, because that is what it felt like,’ she admits.

One morning she woke to find another patient hiding in her room. ‘I heard a voice say, “You’re finally awake.” I didn’t know if it was real or a dream. Later, staff found him. I was terrified.’

Gradually, Elle began to talk to other patients. ‘A lot of the people were so nice. And so were the staff. I look back on it now as the best and worst six weeks of my life, because for the first time I was around people that understood. I didn’t have to hide anymore.

‘One man, who wore women’s leggings, a high-vis jacket and had no front teeth, turned out to be one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. If he hadn’t seen me, he’d get staff to check I was eating. I could kick myself for judging him.’

However, Elle says she was disappointed by the lack of professional support. Besides medication, she only saw a psychiatrist twice in six weeks and had no individual therapy. Promised activities were often cancelled due to staff shortages and she found group work to be useless.

As Christmas approached, the mum felt desperate to return home to her son and she was discharged. Once home, her suicidal feelings returned. 

‘I felt safe in hospital, but as soon as I’d come back, there was just everything at your fingertips. And no one can protect you from everything all the time.’

Elle was told she would see the home treatment team within 48 hours. However, she says that the appointment ‘was the most pointless 15 minutes of my life. A complete box-ticking exercise. I was then discharged from them and told I’d be picked up by the community mental health team within seven days.’

Weeks passed, then months – all with no support. Her mum desperately phoned services – her GP, the hospital, the home treatment team, the community mental health team – again and again, only to be passed from one team to another.

Eventually Elle received a letter containing a psychiatrist’s appointment in May. ‘I cried and told my mum – I don’t think I can last that long,’ she remembers. ‘We thought about private care but couldn’t afford it.’

At night, Elle would lay wide awake, her mind whirring. During the day she was too nervous to leave the house. ‘Everyone around me was on eggshells. I could just see the worry in their faces. It confirmed the idea in my head that I wasn’t really worth it,’ she says.

Sadly, Elle made further attempts on her life, but she stopped going to hospital, because, she says, ‘she didn’t see the point.’

It wasn’t until last August that Elle finally received meaningful help, when she received a referral to see an ‘absolutely brilliant’ NHS psychologist.

‘She follows me up, books appointments, and calls weekly to check in,’ explains Elle. ‘She treats me like a human being.’ 

The regular support has been invaluable and feeling stronger and stable, Elle has since begun sharing her experience online. She’s also heard from others who have been through the same and seen gaps in care, which inspired Elle to set up the charity What About Now, named after the question she asked when discharged with no follow up.

With the aim to create community spaces for people who feel isolated or unsupported, the charity’s main initiative, Chatty Corner, partners with local cafés in Bromley and Bexley where Elle sets aside time each week for anyone to drop in for companionship, a listening ear, practical advice or simply a safe place to talk. She hopes to expand the model nationally, building an inclusive network that makes support accessible regardless of income.

‘I don’t think anyone should be discharged from hospital into nothing. People deserve meaningful aftercare and more needs to be done to protect people when they are at their most vulnerable,’ the mum, who has written a book about her experience, adds.

‘I am much stronger now. I keep busy with my son and the charity. I still have bad days, but I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time. However, I am angry because I nearly died, and my little boy nearly lost his mum because I fell through the cracks. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did.’

Metro has contacted Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust for comment.

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As Valentine’s Day looms nearer, some might be tempted to get out there to find a romantic partner, but I’d say give it a rest – and here’s why.

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Under-eye patches have become a must-have step in many individuals’ skincare routine thanks to their magical properties of reducing dark circles, fine lines and puffiness.

They’re straightforward to apply and are an easy self-care step for when you’re getting ready or recovering from a night out or long day. 

The eye area has long been a neglected area in people’s skincare routines.

However, with the rise of celebrities sporting these quick fixes with the likes of Harry Styles using 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask in the promo image for his latest single “Aperture”, or Hailey Bieber using Rhode Peptide Eye Prep Depuffing Eye Patches, skincare lovers are now paying more attention.

With many brands releasing these masterful beauty must-haves, we’ve searched far and wide for the best under-eye patches on the market for you to shop right now and get your glow on.

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The best under-eye patches

PIXI DetoxifEYE Eye Patches

These cult-favourite patches are a wake-up call for tired eyes. Infused with caffeine, cucumber, and even gold, these hydrogel patches boast energising and hydrating advantages to leave the eye area glowing and nourished.

Use the efficient spatula to remove two of the patches and pop them on for a minimum of 10 minutes whilst getting ready or unwinding to let them work their magic.

shop £22

Garnier Brightening Eye Mask with Vitamin C

Skincare doesn’t have to break the bank as Garnier’s Vitamin-C eye masks pack a punch with their affordable price tag.

Expertly designed to hydrate and brighten dull under-eyes, they're brilliant for anyone after a quick glow boost. Pop them in the fridge before wearing to maximise their depuffing results.

shop £3.50

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Skin Secrets Immediate Eye Revival Patches

Charlotte Tilbury might be known for their flawless makeup, but their skincare is also one not to miss out on.

Promising their usual red-carpet results, these sleek masks target multiple concerns as they penetrate deep into the skin to hydrate, smooth and brighten the area in just 10 minutes. You can even wear them over makeup if you’re needing a midday pick-me-up.

shop £58

BeautyPro Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask

Another brilliant budget-friendly option that delivers noticeable results are the BeautyPro Eye Therapy Under Eye Masks.

These serum-soaked patches help smooth fine lines and revive tired eyes, making them a great all-rounder for everyday use. They're ideal for beginners or anyone wanting fuss-free results without the hefty price tag.

shop £4.50 (£1.50)

Beauty of Joseon Revive Under Eye Patch Ginseng and Retinal

K-Beauty is taking the world by storm, and it’s no surprise when the effects are as good as these. Beauty of Joseon uses Hangbang, traditional Korean medicine based on natural ingredients with actives such as retinal to improve the results.

Ginseng energises tired skin while retinal helps smooth fine lines over time. They’re perfect if you want more than just instant depuffing, think long-term under-eye care with a gentle but effective outcome.

shop £17

Anua Niacinamide 5 TXA Brightening Pads

Some say go big or go home, and that’s just what these pads by Anua do. Larger than most eye patches on the market, these round-shaped toner pads are a multitasking dream.

Packed with niacinamide and tranexamic acid, they help brighten dark circles, even skin tone and boost glow. Place either under the eyes or around the mouth area to give your complexion the rejuvenating fix it needs.

shop £22

Foreo IRIS™ Hydrating Hydrogel Eye Mask

Gift yourself a spa treatment from the comfort of your own home with Foreo’s IRIS™ Hydrating Hydrogel eye masks.

Rich with hydrating actives, these masks boost elasticity and promote circulation to improve dark circles whilst soothing and depuffing. Perfect for a self-care Sunday or pre-event prep, they leave under-eyes looking brighter, fresher and seriously well-rested without any fuss.

shop £46.90

Dark circles? I hardly know her.

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More than 9,000 victims lost a total of £90.9million from romance scams in the first 10 months of 2025, according to the UK’s national cybercrime squad Report Fraud